Adjustable size jumping hoop



p 9, 1969 E. R. THORNTON 3,466,032

ADJUSTABLE SIZE JUMPING HOOP Filed May as, 1967 United States Patent Q ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A jumping hoop formed from a pair of metal rods which are adjustable relative to each other so to accommodate children or persons of different sizes, one of the metal rods being selectively adjustable relative to the other.

This invention relates generally to jumping hoops or skipping hoops.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable size jumping hoop which may be selectively adjustable to accommodate children or persons of different heights.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable size jumping hoop which is formed from a pair of U-shaped metal rods that are selectively adjustable relative to each other to form either a longer or shorter hoop.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable size jumping hoop wherein the metal rods are slideable relative to each other and which can be adjusted with out the necessity of employing tools thereby providing quick adjustment when desired.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an adjustable size jumping hoop which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efiicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of the present invention; shown in operative use;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device as viewed in the general direction 2-2 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a typical end of each of the metal rods, and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a rubber stop memher which forms a part of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents an adjustable size jumping hoop according to the present invention wherein there are a pair of metal rods 11 and 12, each of which is of generally U-shaped configuration and which are adjustably secured together.

The metal rod 11 includes a pair of parallel arms 13 interconnected by a connecting straight portion 14, each arm having a loop 15 formed at its terminal end. The metal rod 12 likewise comprises parallel spaced apart arms 16 interconnected by means of connecting portion 17 therebetween, the ends of each of the arms 16 being formed with loops 15.

A cylindrical-shaped rubber bushing 18 is provided with an annular groove 19 in the cylindrical side 20 thereof for purpose of allowing the loop 15 of each of the arms to be fitted thereinto. The rubber bushing is provided with a central opening 21 into which the arm of the other of the metal rods is received as is clearly shown in the drawing.

Patented Sept. 9, 1969 "ice A rubber stop member 22 of generally rectangular configuration is provided with a pair of spaced-apart openings 23. The rubber stop member in use in folded over as is clearly indicated in FIGURES 2 and 3 and is fitted upon the arms of the metal rods and placed in the vicinity of the rubber bushings, the rubber stop member serving as a lock to retain the adjustable size jumping hoop in a selected adjustable position.

In operative use when a child or person wishes to adjust the device for proper length, he places his feet upon one of the connecting portions 14 or 17 and pulls or pushes upon the upper or other end until the desired size is obtained. The rubber stop members may he slid along the" arms to a position adjacent the rubber bushing thereafter and the device is then immediately ready for use. It is to be noted that the metal rod 11 is provided with generally rounded corners 24 for the purpose of easy grasping thereof in the hands 25 during skipping or jumping operation. Regardless of how fast the device is twirling in use, the rubber stop member overcomes the centrifugal force. The device is used very similarly in the manner of a jumping rope except in the present device there will be a momentum gained which will make it relatively effortless to maintain the device to continue in a twirling motion.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims:

I claim:

1. In an adjustable size jumping hoop, the combination of a pair of metal rods, said metal rods being each of generally U-shaped configuration and being adjustably secured together to form a relatively larger or smaller hoop, said U-shaped rods being of a size to enable a user to jump therebetween, each of said generally U-shaped metal rods comprising a pair of parallel spaced apart arms interconnected at their one ends by an interconnecting portion, and the ends of said arms each being provided with a loop for connection to the other of said metal rods, a cylindrical configurated rubber bushing being inserted within each of said loops at the end of each of said arms, said rubber bushing having a cylindrical side, said cylindrical side having an annular groove for receiving said metal rod loop therewithin.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein a rubber stop is placed adjacent each of said rubber bushings, each of said rubber stops comprising a generally rectangular member having a pair of spaced apart openings therethrough, each of said rubber stops in operative use being folded over to align said openings of said rubbe stop and fitted upon each of said arms of said metal ro s.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,252,125 1/1918 Krafft 223-61 2,209,130 7/ 1940 Mueller 287-65 2,461,381 2/ 1949 Henderson 223-63 3,072,402 1/1963 McCOmbs 272-74 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,237,994 6/ 1960 France.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner RICHARD W. DIAZ, IR., Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

